A modern hospital is not just about new equipment, but about thoughtful priorities, stable financing, and people who know how to work with technology. An expert discussion revealed that Slovakia has top-notch facilities, but also large debts, procurement bottlenecks, and too little data to steer investments. Inspiration comes from the Czech Republic, where the state systematically maps needs and ties modernization to clear criteria.
Technology—yes, but wisely
Hospitals want to invest in robotic surgery and cutting-edge oncology treatment, but they must set priorities. It was noted that not everything has to be everywhere: some facilities with low procedure volumes simply cannot make special technologies „pay for themselves“. Therefore, a „third partner“ is needed for unique devices—the state, which will top up the financing; otherwise, investments will not get off the ground.
In oncology, an MR-linac was mentioned—a linear accelerator with magnetic resonance imaging that improves the precision of irradiation. According to the discussants, such technology should be available at least at one top-tier facility; in the Czech Republic, it is already in operation at Masarykovom onkologickom ústave and they are procuring a second unit. Before the „antennas“ arrive, however, you need a solid „roof“: stable infrastructure, operations, and service so that expensive devices bring real benefit to patients.
Money, procurement, and inspiration from the Czech Republic
State hospitals are weighed down by an investment backlog and a complex mix of buildings and departments; in Bratislava there was talk of huge liabilities and duplications. EU funds are not always available and public procurement pushes for the lowest price, not the best clinical outcome. Experts are calling for tenders to be based on clearly defined clinical requirements and for the inequality between state and private providers in purchasing to be addressed.
The Czech Republic is an example of how this can be approached systematically: it maps technological needs, announces programs (e.g., national oncology centers), and ties support to conditions such as the availability of nuclear medicine. The result is faster replacement of equipment and targeted investments where they are most beneficial for patients. Without a similar „map“ and categorization of procedures, Slovakia will struggle to catch up.
People, data, and the patient journey
Modernization is not just about buying equipment, but also about staff and processes. New devices increase costs not only for materials, but also for skills—training, maintaining teams, and higher levels of expertise. Digitalization offers hope: it reduces errors, makes work easier, and helps retain specialists, who increasingly ask what procedures a workplace performs and what technology they will be working with.
The discussants called for better use of data: hospitals report an enormous amount of information, but the feedback is weak. We need benchmarking based on real outputs (e.g., DRG), comparable „yearbooks“ and measurable patient pathways for key diagnoses such as oncology and cardiology. Only then will investments in technologies and education—including programs for working with artificial intelligence—deliver value that patients feel and the system can bear.
